USC offensive breakdown

Our look back at the USC offense for 2012 and a look ahead for what to expect in 2013.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea/US PresswireMarqise Lee is a spectacular talent, but the Trojans need to be less reliant on the star receiver in 2013.

What was good in 2012: The Trojans had the best wide receiver in football in Marqise Lee, and it wasn’t even close. Check any measurement you want; the Biletnikoff Award, the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, any number of All-American teams. Those kinds of honors tend to roll in when you set a conference record for catches (112) and receiving yards (1,680) while also leading the conference in kickoff-return yardage. His masterpiece was the Arizona game, with 16 catches for 345 yards and a pair of scores along with 123 yards in kickoff returns.

What was bad in 2012: Too much reliance on Lee. As good as Lee was, there was a train of thought during the season -- one that was even offered up recently in comments by Matt Barkley -- that the Trojans may have focused too much on Lee in relation to other players. There is no shortage of skill weapons on the USC roster, yet Lee caught more balls this year than the next two receivers combined, and one of those other players -- Robert Woods -- is the all-time USC leader in career receptions. The USC offense, which was supposed to be one of the best in the country, had too many bouts of sputtering and inconsistent play. Finding a semblance of balance will be important as the Trojans head into next year.